The Lamb Catholic Worker Archives and Spiritual Articles for New: The Lamb Catholic Community

9/14/17 Sprung from the LCW, same mission in Spirit of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, with charisms of the Holy Spirit "..to bring good news to the poor, liberty to the captives.." for battered women and children of foreign descent. Go to: Lambcatholic.blogspot.com,
EMAIL:lambcatholic@gmail.com.
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Tuesday, December 12, 2017

This Advent and Christmastide are a very special time of year to focus on Jesus and on our level of love for Him -- in other words, to "Come let us adore Him." One way is just to speak to Him for at least 15 minutes straight every day, even if you have to do so on returning to bed when you wake up for that middle of the night bathroom stop.
Also, there is a new book put out by the Children of Mary called I Will Think of Everything And You, Only Loving Me." It is powerful on putting the focus of our lives on loving Christ as much as we can and offering "continuous acts of perfect love" to Him every waking moment possible.
Simplifying your prayer life is another way to focus almost exclusively on Christ and His bidding in this holy season commemorating His birth. From reading this book (above), I decided for Advent and Christmas that my only petitionary prayers are going to be: "For everyone in my past, present, and future, and all affecting them."
I was spending a large part of my prayer life with rosaries, chaplets, etc in lengthy and time-consuming petitions for others instead of putting all things into His hands totally, letting even the prayers along with outcomes, etc, be fully in His decision-making and hands. I decided to let Him FULLY figure out what even to ask for and when, leaving all to Him alone, with full trust.
I feel I have been freed and actually feel more trust by not burdening or busying my head and heart with things out of my control anyways. I can also better "meditate on the actual mysteries" of the rosary. I feel these things have drawn me closer to Him, but I have a ways to go!
Here are further reflections written by Benedictine monks over the years for Third Order Benedictines of St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indinana at Advent and Christmas time in order to draw all of them, us, closer to Jesus, Our Lord. Dorothy Day was a Benedictine Oblate, or Third Order Benedictine, which is why many Benedictine monasteries are praying for her canonization.

Come, Holy Spirit, come, through the powerful intercessory prayers of Mother Mary on this feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Fr. Schalk preached this morning at mass how the single most powerful person to ask intercessory prayers of against Satan Himself, from the Revelations scripture of the woman clothed in the sun against the seven-headed dragon, is Mother Mary herself.

This season is also to honor her amazing yes at such a youthful age and in so dangerous a society to do such a momentous thing. We love you Jesus. We love you Mary. Come be with us, Jesus, and as the famous song of Mary says, "come walk with us, Mary, come walk with us," "Ven Con Nosotros a Caminar, Santa Maria Ven."

"Christmastide 1941" by Fr. Bernardine Shine, OSB

.." With the activity, haste, and busyness, the world rushes towards Christmas. But what has the world to do with Christmas? The world missed the first Christmas completely because of its sprit; that same spirit reigns in the world today.
... There was no room for two spirits in the cave; the world did not enter. It had all the song, tinsel, and good cheer of the season, but it did not have Christmas.
Angels directed the shepherds to Him Who made the true Christmas. Good oblates look to St. Benedict for the spirit the feels at home in the cave, for the safe way that leads to Christ."

"The Mystery of Christmas, 1945" by Fr. Walter Sullivan, OSB

" ... Now what does it mean to believe and live the Whole Mystery of Christmas? It means to ponder in your heart with Mary how this Infant cradled in His Mother's arms is the Wisdom from on High, The Root of Jesse, The Key of David, The King of Nations, The Emmanuel, The Expectation and Savior of Peoples, The King of Peace whom the whole earth has desired to see.
... It means to ponder in your heart how the Song of God, begotten from all eternity of God the Father, took to Himself of the flesh of Mary a human body, and created for Himself a human soul.
... For the myster of Christmas is a soul-searching test of true Christianity, and it demands of the Christian seven profound acts of living the faith:

To see Christ in the crib of Bethlehem and to adore Him.

To see Christ in His Church and to obey Him.

To see Christ in Holy Mass and to offer Him.

To see Christ in Confession and unburden the heart to Him.

To hear Christ in the Gospel and to imitate Him.

To see Christ in the other members of His Body and to love Him.

To see Christ in our own bodies and to reverence Him

... its purpose [Christmas] is to divinize people -- to make them partakers of Divine Life in the living Body of Christ that is the Church.

By the mystery of Christmas, we are more closely knit to one another than are Americans under the same flag, our club members wearing the same pin, or even kinfolk of the same family. For regardless of club, country, race, or family, we are One in Christ, if we are faithful members of His Body."

"Christmas 1951" by Fr. Walter Sullivan OSB

"Amidst the frills and sweet sentiment that have been associated with the Babe of Bethlehem, we may forget the prophecy of Simeon to Our Lady: 'Behold this Child is destined for the fall and rise of many.'

... The struggle between what is weak in us and what is strong in us is a necessary element of Christian life on earth. If there were no weakness, there could be no spiritual maturity in people. Our Lord says plainly to St. Paul (2 Cor. 12:9), 'Strength is made perfect in weakness.' The apostle, recognizing the reserve power of grace in his soul, says a startling thing to us, 'I will glory in my weakness that the strength of Christ may dwell in me.'

St. Benedict speaks forcibly of this life-long conflict between self-indulgence and the life of Christ in us when he says in the last part of the Prologue to the Holy Rule, 'We must prepare our hearts and bodies to do battle under holy obedience to God's command. Let us ask God to give us grace (strength) for anything which our nature finds almost impossible. A person, counting merely on his own strength without seeking sincerely and perseveringly help from God, will remain miserably disillusioned.'

"... Best news of all, He has come to save us from our despair and from ever losing hope. His grace is ours for the asking in every crisis of our life, if, trampling pride and selfishness underfoot, we ask Him for help."

"Christmas 1957" by Fr. Blaise Hettich OSB

"... In the middle of the whirl of shopping, partying, ... the hub of all our activities should be Christ. It's His birthday we are celebrating.
... Let us recall that when Moses made Aaron high priest of Israel, he poured oil over his head. The people saw this as a sign of God's power coming upon the priest. Likewise, the prophet Samuel poured oil on the head of David to show that God had chosen him as king.
To the Jews, 'the Anointed' meant the great King and Priest who would be sent from god to be their leader. 'Messiah,' a Hebrew word, and 'Christ,' a Greek word, both mean 'the Anointed.' When the Son of god became a human being, He remained God. The divine Christ 'anointed' the human.
.... May God bless you this Christmas with 'the oil of gladness,' so that the Life and Love of
Christ may strengthen your hearts."

"Christmas 1964" by Fr. Gerard Ellspermann, OSB

"These are the days of quiet joy. They are days of prayer and pondering. In imitation of Mary, who 'kept in mind all these words, pondering them in her heart,' we should not let these days go by without much prayer and frequent meditation... he 'for us and our salvation was born of the Virgin Mary, and became flesh.'
"... He has come to give us life, and make us sharers in His life. the very impressive words of the Vespers refrain for the feast of the Octave of Christmas fill us with joy: 'Oh wondrous exchange! The Creator of the human race, taking onto Himself the living body, deigns to be born of a Virgin; and becoming man from no human generation, has bestowed upon us His divinity.

[Pope Leo the Great] had this to say in strong and vibrant words: 'Remember all Christians, your dignity. You have been made a partaker of the divine nature. Do not return to your former base way of life.' In a sense, then, this is the point of no return. We can't look back. We cannot even think about turning back.
... As Fr. Emerick Lawrence, OSB, has said, 'This feast means ... social justice, racial justice, tolerance, charity. It is a call to all of us to contemplate the goodness and kindness of God in His gift of Himself to us, and then to carry the fruits of our contemplation into our environment so that it may become Christ's ... It means patience and kindness in our homes, forgiveness of enemies, consideration for the weaknesses of our brethren, active charity, and a never-ending effort to promote unity in our parishes and communities."

"December 1981" by Fr. Gerard Ellspermann, OSB

"... God takes from Mary fless. The Incarnate Word gives us in return and incomprehensible gift. This is a participation, real and intimate, in the Divine nature. And thus is achieved the most wonderful event that ever happened to us -- god giving us a share in His divine life by taking upoin Himself our human life.
At this time of mutual giving of presents to those we love, we are reminded of the supreme gift God gives to us. Exchanging gifts makes us think of the admirable exchange brought about by the Incarnation. Give glory to God for His bringing peace to mankind!"

"Christmas 1993" by Fr. Michael Keene, OSB

"... St. John the Evangelist speaks of Christ who was the 'Light that shines in the darkness' and teh darkness cannnot overcome it. he is the 'true light that enlightens each one who comes into this world.' Our Divine Savior said to his disciples: 'I am the light of the world; whoever walks by Me has the light of life and does not walk in darkness.'

"Christmas 2000" by Fr. Meinrad Brune OSB

"... God sent Jesus to be born into a poor family, far from their home. God sent Jesus to tell us and show us how to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and offer forgiveness to sinners around us...
... We must slow down the pace and grow still... This child, the Word of God, is God's promise that we never will be asked to travel down a harder road than Jesus has gone down before...
Every time we listen to any person in his or her simple human need -- a confused teen, aching sick person, lonely shut-in, grieving widow or widower, repetitious elderly person, overburdened parents -- we celebrate Christmas."

Saturday, November 25, 2017

By Monica, The Lamb Catholic Community, (evolving of the LCW) Columbus, Ohio

In this approaching season honoring the birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, one will marvel at the constant and unblemished history of the Christian pacifist Maori people against "the Crown," [England], and its imperialist havoc of greed, malice, slaughtering and prejudice. Still, they remained true to their Savior, who preached, modeled, and died for love. Their history is below from the Christchurch Catholic Worker in New Zealand ("Christchurch" being the name of a city).

As one recounts horrific details of a massive ISIS bombing in Egypt yesterday killing over 300 innocent Muslims at prayer in a mosque, and as one recalls another very recent grisly tragedy of innocent praying civilians in a Texan Baptist church at the hands of Devin Patrick Kelley, a former U.S. Air Force soldier (committed with mainly a Ruger AR-15 assault rifle), -- one's immediate reaction may at first be to take up arms and kill the enemy. An eye for an eye. Yet, the power of God, who is love, who created the universe, all life, all human beings the world over made in His image and likeness, beckons to much higher ground, much higher levels of love.

Like the purity of witness in Jesus Christ, all of the early church communities for the first 300 years after Christ's death, Martin Luther King Jr, Dorothy Day, St. Francis of Assissi, St. Justin the Martyr and countless Catholic Workers, Amish, Mennonite and Quakers, death does not have the final say; and the nonviolent cross and way of Jesus Christ has enormous power -- moreso than hate and killing.

Was the Temple restored because of the armed killing and slaughter at the hand of the "Jewish rebel warriors," as described by history scholars, called the Maccabees, or mainly from the pure, holy and undefiled blood of the seed of the martyrs -- elderly Eleazar, tortured and killed for his beliefs in Yahweh, as well as the mother and her seven sons who were brutally tortured and who perished together rather than disobey even one of God's smallest commands? These pure actions and witnesses have great power to change the world with the genuine conversion of hearts, the method typical of God's sweeping movements in history.

I have heard from the pulpit that the main way that the Catholic Church proliferated was not with the Old Testament mentality of killing, pillaging, and butchering of men, women, and even children (there are several genocides in the Old Testament) in the name of God, but with running further and further distances to avoid persecution. Done purely, in holiness and Truth, and even with martyrdom, this is the seed that grows strongly and steadily, the seed of the blood of the martyrs.

Even our country was somewhat begun in this manner -- with the English Puritans fleeing religious persecution in England, going to dangerously great lengths to begin anew far, far away.

Some say we would not have a country now if it were not for winning the Revolutionary War, defending ourselves against these British. Great Britain had far far greater control over India in the 19th and 20th century than it ever had over the British colonies. Ghandi, and his program of active nonviolence -- purer to Christ than many Christians live -- helped to completely overthrow British control and gain India's independence in 1947.

In Matthew Kelly's book, Catholicism, he quotes how Ghandi answered when asked why he didn't just become a Christian since he read Jesus' words nearly daily, lived them to a T, and promoted this way. He replied, "I would become one if I met one."

I have heard some say that all of Europe would be Muslim if it weren't for this or that "Christian" army and their bloodbath, or without the rosaries prayed to kill and slaughter the enemy men and boys fighting against them. Is God not beyond the capability of the proliferation and spreading of His Gospel in pure and holy ways and witnesses? ... especially ones aligned with His Way of His own Son who came down to show us how to fulfill all the prophecies and old order, then to further purify, align, and raise all of our actions to the level of perfect love toward all, even the enemy? Jesus contrasted ways of old to His new way with prefaces like "... before it was ..... but now I say .... "

My father, peace activist Tom Siemer, always said growing up that the reason the very birth place of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Middle East is so Muslim is that we Christians messed up the purity of Christ's way and Truth in our militaristic attacks and slaughtering of the enemy. This Old Testament mentality still continues in the Middle East to this day, sadly, and in the name of God on both sides.

In giving the "Our Father," Jesus furthered His desiring that our actions here be indistinguishable from our actions in Heaven: "thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." Jesus wants our actions to be pure from beginning to end -- such as with Mother Teresa who's actions of love are the means and the ends and everything in between -- mirroring what they will be in Heaven.

Some say, "But we had to kill, especially at times like Hitler's, when the atom bomb was necessary..." Fr. Richard McSorley, S.J. and Georgetown University always taught that "He who chooses the lesser of two evils soon forgets he chose evil in the first place. There is always a third choice."

But wait, aren't we not truly, truly capable of loving on Earth the way that we will be able to love in Heaven after our time of purification and purgation? We will be capable then only after this process that we will undergo, right?

It seems that Jesus believes that we are capable of our actions being to the level they will be in Heaven and even beyond the best of human actions altogether when he teaches: "You must be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." He says this after giving the new command of loving even the enemy. His confidence in us and our ability to love and act at the perfection level of the Father is utterly amazing, but true.

Should we be so willing to not risk breaking a least command of God surrounding what goes into our mouths (as in Maccabees), but risk breaking far greater ones surrounding the outright killing of people through carnage and butchery, of taking an actual sacred human life? Do we take seriously Jesus new command to solely love our enemy, do only good to those who hate us, only bless those who curse us, be the proof that we are a children of our heavenly Father in our peacemaking?

Which actions are more powerful, the blood of the seed of the martyrs and their holy, unblemished offering of their lives, or the militaristic killing, maiming, and mutilating of sacred human life? Is human life sacred or is it not? Can it be destroyed or can it never be destroyed at the hand of human beings? Can one person ever choose or have a choice over the life or death of another person?

My mentor, Fr. Richard McSorley, S.J. from his mentor, Fr. Horace McKenna, S.J. (who many things are named after in Washington, D.C.) taught me that "Jesus Christ is present in every single human being the world over." Pope Emeritus Benedict XVII and Martin Luther King Jr. said that God's own indelible stamp is within every single person. You stop God's work of salvation in the person that you choose to kill. In a sense, you play God, and as in the Old Testament, and "God alone is the author of all life and death."

Our special prayers are for and appeal is toward the Muslim women in Egypt, and in the Middle East, from all sects of Islam. They must see the recent carnage and bloodshed of the innocently praying men, women and children in Egypt as so evil, so against all that is good, against all-merciful God, against love and and beliefs of all kind, that they will work hard for peace, mercy, and reconciliation for a world they are leaving for their children.

We ask all Christians, especially Catholics, to do the same. One small way here in Columbus, is to learn more about and extend friendship toward the Muslim cultures and peoples here in Columbus, many war refugees from the recent Iraqi War as well as refugees from Somalia and other countries, at the Noor Islamic Culture Center and mosque (5001 Wilcox Rd. in Dublin).

They have certain days of the year where teachers and others are invited to learn about their religion and their culture. In peacemaking, dialogue and friendship are crucial, and we can all be instruments of peace and mercy.

Meeting Tariq Tarey, Nov. 2017

One Muslim from Somalia, famous photoartist, director, and documentarian, Tariq Tarey, has created an exhibit at our Ohio History Connection (formerly the Ohio Historical Society near the soccer stadium) about some of our newest Ohioans -- the Bhutanese and Nepali refugees. These join other refugees, such as those from Somalia, and teaches the difference between an immigrant (coming for a better way of life) and a refugee (fleeing for their lives typically from war-torn or high famine areas). This exhibit ends January 8th, so get their quickly. :)

The history of the more than 20,000
Bhutanese-Nepali people in Columbus is rapidly becoming the history of Ohio.
This exhibit consists of 30 photographs of members of the Bhutanese-Nepali
community, taken by Tariq Tarey. Each photograph is accompanied by a narrative
written by Doug Rutledge, which explains each individual’s history. The
photographs emphasize the historic sequence of the Bhutanese-Nepali refugee
experience; from living and working in Bhutan, to being forced to leave Bhutan,
the experience of living in refugee camps in Nepal for 20 years or more, to
resettlement in Columbus, finding jobs, buying homes and finally becoming
American citizens.

Mother Mary, or Maryam in the Muslim world, pray for us, especially the Muslim women to help bring peace into their world, as you brought Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, into the world.

The New Zealand Catholic Worker article is below. To revive your hope in humanity, in the sacredness of all human life in their witness of Christ-like pacifism, and gain a restored fervor over the power of love and peace beyond what this world could give amidst a sometimes violent and cruel world, please read this amazing true story of the history of the Maori people in New Zealand..., which models so very well, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

The exhibit at the Ohio History Connection on refugees was put together by Tariq Tarey, his background is below.

Tariq Tarey from Somalia (I met him
at a talk he gave in Columbus)

Tariq Tarey is a documentary photographer, skilled in both still photography and video, who specializes in refugee affairs. In July of 2006, Tariq’s show, Forlorn in Ohio, which documented the plight of Somali refugees, appeared at the Kiaca Gallery in Columbus. Forlorn in Ohio also traveled to Wright State University, in 2007. Several images from that show are now part of the permanent collection of the Columbus Museum of Art. In recognition to the power of his work to call attention to the plight of refugees, Tariq was honored with the South Side Settlement House’s prestigious Arts Freedom Award in 2006. In that year, he also won the Ohio Art Council’s Individual Artist Award. In 2008, Tariq was given the Individual Artist Award by the Greater Columbus Arts Council. He directed the documentary, “Emergency Living: Somalia in the Aftermath of Famine.” Tariq also directed “Women, War and Resettlement: Nasro’s Journey,” which was aired on WOSU Public Television in 2012. In 2014, Tariq’s film, “The Darien Gap,” was shown in the 2 nd United States Conference on African Immigrant and Refugee Health. In 2015, Tariq’s photo spread appeared in the Magazine, 614, in an article entitled, “Journeys of the Diaspora.” In 2015, Tariq also did a photo spread for a publication entitled, Impact of Refugees in Central Ohio.

As you have probably read, The Lamb Catholic Worker has evolved to become The Lamb Catholic Community, as explained a couple articles ago.

Though we have not begun in deed, we need not worry, it is in God's time. The poem below by Archbishop Oscar Romero explains it more eloquently.

We Are Prophets of a Future Not Our Own

by Archbishop Oscar Romero

It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view.

The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,

It is beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.

Thursday, September 28, 2017

You may copy this, sign it, and send it. This is my father's last big hurrah, for those who have known him in his peace work for the last 40+ years! He already has gotten this out to the Catholic world this summer, but I am helping him too! Thanks Dad! Pray for us!

One of Dad's many protest signs

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Tom Siemer's painting of Dorothy Day

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Added to this article Oct. 7, 2017 :

A group ICAN (the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) won the Nobel Peace Prize, announced yesterday, Oct. 6, see below. Also, this group has begun a campaign to ban nuclear weapons in the world, and on Sept. 21, a high level Vatican diplomat at the United Nations signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in the name of Vatican City (and country), one of three countries to endorse or sign this. This was after my father had a paid advertisment in a large Catholic paper! Thank you, dear Holy Papa, for sticking your neck out for peace in the world! Thanks, Dad!! Our daily rosaries that Mother Mary asked at Fatima "for world peace" are working!

THIS FRIDAY there will be a BEAUTIFUL mass at St. Catharine Church (503 S. Gould) and procession of Mary to Christ the King Church. That will last about 45 minutes and will be in Spanish and English. This Friday is the anniversary of the "Miracle of the Sun" at Fatima in Portugal. Over 70,000 people witness the sun dancing and swiftly moving in the sky! This procession is on the 100th anniversary of that day, so look up to the sky everyone on October 13th!

After the section on the Nobel Prize will be a video on my favorite Spanish song to Mary. It asks Mary to please come and walk with us.

OSLO/GENEVA (Reuters) - A campaign group
seeking a global ban on nuclear arms won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday [Oct.
6, 2017], given the award by a Nobel Committee that cited the spread of weapons
to North Korea and said the risk was growing of nuclear war.

The award to the International Campaign
to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was unexpected, particularly in a year when
the architects of the 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Iran had been
seen as favorites for achieving the sort of diplomatic breakthrough that has
won the prize in the past.

Supporters described the award as a
potential breakthrough for a global movement that has fought to ban nuclear
arms from the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of
Hiroshima in August 1945.

“Nuclear weapons are illegal.
Threatening to use nuclear weapons is illegal. Having nuclear weapons,
possessing nuclear weapons, developing nuclear weapons, is illegal, and they
need to stop,” she told Reuters.

My father, Tom Siemer, has been working on this for over 40 years, lobbying and praying at most of the U.S. Catholic Bishop Conference places, driving his van around the country with signs, making his way to gatherings of Church leaders, giving talks, protesting, and discussing with all who would listen, the nonviolent cross and teachings of Christ, especially in regards to weapons of mass destruction of which he was a part for many years.

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, Pray for us!

Here is the song! Come, walk with us, Mary, walk with us! We love you!

Mother Mary bothered to come six times to earth to warn the world to pray the rosary daily for world peace in 1917. May we work for peace as hard as we pray for peace! Thanks Dad for all you have done!

Monday, September 4, 2017

This is a repost to be the final or top article (as far as we can see).
In this year of the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and the 100th anniversary of Our Lady appearing at Fatima, and on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, September 14, a new community will begin online at first, here in Columbus, Ohio.
With much soul searching, prayer, reflection, rereading of Dorothy Day's books and history, and with spiritual direction of a priest, involving myself with many newer charismatic events, activities and empowerment, and after having become a Benedictine Oblate, I believe that God is leading me and others who are joining, down a different path in name, even though most of what has been worked toward is identical.
September 14 will launch The Lamb Catholic Community, with the simultaneous refurbishing of The Lamb Catholic Worker mission. We will continue for current reflection and historical background. As a subtitle, this new community credits Dorothy and Peter: "... in the spirit of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin," which it is in its hospitality to the poor, simple living in community, and Christian nonviolence (pacifism).
It was an amazing dream, with no regrets. All was meant to happen in the timing it happened -- the earlier community beginnings and mistakes, our legal nonprofit status and board with four priests, the many articles given by the Holy Spirit and always in the wee hours of the morning, the offering of my life for Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin's canonization in the live-liver donation to my nephew and second emergency surgery, the waiting and waiting for Dorothy's eventual moving up in the canonization process.
I was schooled under two stellar Catholic Worker priests in my earlier days, Fr. Richard McSorley, S.J. and Msgr. Marv Mottet at the Catholic Worker houses we began in D.C. in the early 1980s. I lived it for three years and believe it was the closest to living like the early Church as you could possibly get in this country back then -- in "profound poverty and profound joy," one with the poorest, in communal living in the Spirit as mentioned in the New Testament.
I firmly believe in Dorothy Day's sainthood (and obviously Peter Maurin's) and that they lived out the mandates of Christ and the early Church better than any other Catholic in this country at that time. I understand her need to be a concrete and visible Catholic response to that era in which she began -- the early 1930's at the beginning of the Great Depression where 13 million people were unemployed (within a far lesser total population, over 80+ years ago), and those barely employed were treated horrifically, with terrible working hours, sickness and disease with no medical care, with unionizers being beaten to death, with squalid impossible living conditions due to subhuman level wages, etc, etc.
While Dorothy mainly named the paper and movement after St. Joseph the Worker, the patron of the Catholic Worker and feast day on which it was begun, her first six issues were almost entirely directed to the worker, the labor movement, Catholic social encyclicals on social justice (like Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XII, in 1891, about the rights of workers and the right to unionize), news items about mob bosses, about specific living conditions in areas, working conditions, dangers, etc. This was their focus, their bright light on a hill to such injustices to the working class and unemployed. Dorothy and Peter were so necessary and critical at that time, that I do not doubt any of it, and have great admiration for what they were trying to do. Four popes praised her as well!
One reason for the evolution is that stability and order are very important with at-risk children -- particularly after having become a Third Order Benedictine in the past couple of years (after the time of having begun this initial dream), and having studied Ora et Labora and other components of community life. God created the universe in an amazingly orchestrated, orderly way. There is great freedom in this.
Dorothy even expressed in later years regrets over the name Catholic Worker, which I had never known either. It truly was initally based on the worker and worker rights, even though it has branched in inumerable directions. So even though most of the mission continues identically the more simplistic name and focus was in order.
While there are many many differing kinds of Catholic Workers, with different types of missions or translations of Catholic Worker, in general, one can honestly say that there are some measuring sticks that are baselines of what an authentic one would have, in my opinion, true to Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin.
One of those elements would be hospitality to the homeless and/or the destitute as being the highest priority of any given house. This was a huge battle that Dorothy and Peter had with others over the years, who wanted the word to get out, or message, more than undergoing the "harsh and dreadful" time-consuming love of actually serving the homeless.
The highest number of residents in the home then, would be in this category - of homeless or destitute - and not just a home mostly filled with social justice or peace-minded people. This will free The Lamb Catholic Community to have a much more simple focus of Christ alone, the perfect unblemished Lamb of God -- His actions, His words, His message, His Way, and His thinking. Just that.
His words and actions will be our "rule." The living out of this by His Apostles, those who heard His physical voice with their ears, saw everything He did with their very eyes, and others in the earliest Church who did so as well (as described in the Book of Acts and the epistles), will also be frequently revisited for holiness of life and accountability.
To sum it up, it is Truth with a capital T that is Christ, the unblemished Lamb, who called Himself the Word made flesh, Truth itself. He also pushed that we attempt to "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Thus, one requirement will be a promise to read an entire Gospel from beginning to end yearly, in one of the holy seasons of the year -- Lent or Advent. This is to reground ourselves into Christ alone and not ways of old that even He contrasted, and definitely not in "human tradition," that Jesus accused some of clinging to instead of His newer commands. In other words, this community is to bring people together, not divide them because of this or that questionable item to some.
The beauty is in its simplicity. There are a few other newer components as well, in this year of the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. We want to combine the spiritual and corporal Works of Mercy to an equally high level.
Dorothy and Peter's living out of the Catholic Worker is probably the highest level you can get in this country in terms of the corporal works of mercy, very hard core -- twenty-four/seven living as one with the poor, as in the early Church. We desire to do the same, living as one with the poor and the forgotten, but equally offering the spiritual works of mercy to them as well!
Here are the traditional spiritual works of mercy: instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish the sinners, bear patiently those who wrong us, forgive offenses, comfort the afflicted, and pray for the living and the dead.
Beyond this solid base of spiritual works of mercy above, we want to help our entire community to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit, healed of many hurts and injuries, sicknesses, addictions, habitual destructive life-patterns, generational bondage, etc, and living the full life in Spirit and in Truth.
In addition, we would hopefully be facilitating the reception of other gifts of the Holy Spirit (if they are wanting this), empowered to have lives lead by the Holy Spirit in great joy, peace, and freedom as in the early Church, especially in the Book of Acts. Jesus had promised the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, to lead us and guide us in all things, and this we wish to have for all consenting guests to experience -- a life in the Spirit!
And this even under great persecution and threat (which you most likely will have in the inner city), as in the early Church. Msgr. Mottet always said that the Holy Spirit puts a protective shield and zone around Catholic Worker houses (and we believe this community's houses), even in the most dangerous of neighborhoods. Come, Holy Spirit, come!
Another parting from more recent Catholic Workers is the expectations of our core community members. Dorothy and Peter were warm and welcoming to all, but for themselves, personally underwent very rigorous prayer lives typically with daily mass and rosary, praying the Liturgy of the Hours of the priests, and other spiritual readings in their daily routine of "Ora et Labora," a balance of work and prayer that St. Benedict promoted.
Even the newer Christ in the City program in Denver requires the reading of the Liturgy of the Hours in the morning and at night! Beautiful! And these are teenagers right out of high school mainly. Why not have this at a Catholic community of very committed people?
I have only praise of the great good that Dorothy and Peter brought into the world, and firmly do support their canonization! Dorothy Day's book, Loaves and Fishes, is a requirement in some seminaries. Dorothy and Peter still call all of us to embrace "Lady Poverty" as St. Francis of Assissi called it, live more simply, sacrifice until it hurts for the poor and forgotten in terms of time and money, and especially, to open your home to the poorest and forgotten.
Four popes praised her, so please, continue to pray for her canonization. We will give Dorothy and Peter acknowledgment as part of the inspiration for this community, "... in the spirit of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin..." She has always and will always continue to be dubbed, "Dorothy Day, friend of the forgotten."
What will The Lamb Catholic Community look like? It will look the same as the ideal/model of before, so it is somewhat a continuation of what we have built upon. Eventually, when complete it will consist of a three- or four-house community for battered women and children of foreign descent, with inner city gardens for farming and hopefully, a sister farm in the country.
It would be nice to have a fourth house, "Loaves and Fishes House" for a variety of purposes: a meeting house for hospitality to the neighbors with a light meal in the day, coffee or tea, conversation, and fellowship. It would be a collecting house/area to tackle massive food donations for the three other houses -- for collecting, storing, canning produce, and refrigeration. It could be a wonderful place for a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, for a public event, talk, a reunion, or large place for praise, worship and prayer ministry. Finally, and most importantly, part of it could be a proper place for preparation/clean-up and celebration of daily masses.
One last note is that this community will not shy away from the power of Mother Mary's intercessory prayers! There is a reason that this new community begins in this year of the 100th anniversary of Fatima and the 50th of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. She is spousal to the Holy Spirit. There is no other person on earth who was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and conceived with Him to bring Christ into the world. We go to God first, as always, and rely on her intercessory prayers in between! The daily rosary will then be a must as well, as Mary asked us to do at Fatima "for world peace." Being peacemakers, this will be a very high priority for world peace!
Pray for us! We will give information about the new blog soon! It will be at: Lambcatholic.blogspot.com.

Friday, June 16, 2017

We want the world to know, since views come from so many countries, that our Ohio Catholic Bishops, in one voice, raised concern for the policies put into place by President Trump against immigrants and refugees. We are soo proud of our Roman Catholic bishops right here in little old Ohio, USA! We are thankful to God too, who looks out for the widow and the orphan, the stranger, and the least. Jesus repeatedly spoke out and warned all about protecting the most vulnerable and lowliest who have no rights and no one to speak for them. The actual statement of our Ohio bishops cut and pasted from their website is below my comments.
We are a nation of immigrants too! Our very ancestors were in this position and our lives would be very different now, most likely much worse, if they had not been welcome. Many of us are descended from immigrants who more often than not came freely for a better life and were at least allowed entry - with the exception of our Native American citizens who were here first, and our African Americans brought here and forced, against their will, into slavery.
One would think that we would have a deep appreciation and gratitude instead of condemnation and mistreatment, ripping families apart after they have already worked painstakingly to make a new life here like our ancestors, contributing greatly to society.

It is neglectful for me not to have spoken out before now, not only from

my strong social justice roots of being a Roman Catholic (with our amazing social justice papal encyclicals, teachings from our U.S. Catholic Bishops, pastoral letters, etc), of being a staunch Catholic Worker which stands for Christ's peace always and justice for the poor, but mainly there is no excuse because I have seen firsthand the terror in my families of mainly Hispanic and Muslim descent that make up the majority of my ESL students (I am an English as a Second Language teacher in a public school).

I have Muslim students and families who feel the hate and mistrust, even though they have done nothing wrong and never will. They often asked me in my school year questions like, "Why does President Trump hate us?" or "What else will he do to us?" and "Is it going to get worse?" I had no answer to give.
My Hispanic families in general are the most scared ones because people have already been rounded up to be sent back, even after having worked hard here for years. They are terrified every day and their whole family cries a lot and try to make plans in various scenarios. My little Third Grader Pedro said his family is moving back to Mexico even though there is not enough work right now.
In the case of the "Chaldean Catholics" that are being rounded up and sent back to Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries, their very lives are at stake, in addition to Syrian Muslims and others. My father remembers seeing on the news huge ships and yachts from Germany with Jewish people lining the edges, coming into New York harbor or another U.S. port with hands clasped begging and pleading to be allowed entry, only to be turned around and sent back to their deaths. Hitler was known to say, "You say we are being hard but you don't want the Jewish rats either."
I tried to calm my students fears, but what assurances could I give? I am silently appalled at the lack of basic humanity in our newer laws and actions against immigrants -- and even refugees -- the whole dark mentality. One would wonder of a change of heart would take place if the lawmakers themselves were thrust into this situation, since they lack the empathy to imagine it.
It reminds me of how Hitler, little by little over a period of time, imposed difficult and bigoted burdens, heavy to carry, upon Jewish people for years before finally rounding up this ethnic group for horrific purposes. At the National Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. I was horrified with the MANY laws and prejudices that were acceptable to the German people against the Jewish population, incrementally worsening all the time. First, they were not allowed to travel (sounds familiar), then ride or own bikes, then be out past a certain time in the evening, then they could not live where they wanted but were rounded up into "ghettos," etc, etc. As their rights were infringed upon more and more, very few stepped up to fight these laws on their behalf.
While I believe that President Trump would never agree to create work/death camps, given his verbal defense of our unborn citizens and abortion-mill laws changing one day -- which is important from our president -- he needs to end the terrible laws against refugees and immigrants, as well as slurs against entire populations of Americans.
If you look up Boston and New York City news headlines and history in the 1800's and early 1900's you view quite an outcry against Roman Catholic Irish, Polish, and German immigrants taking over their cities, taking all their jobs, bringing their Catholic religion, being a menace to society with their heavy drinking and brawling, etc, etc,.. Obviously most of those European immigrants more often than not as a whole did not exude these negative stereotypes, but there were enough of those few to always get into the headlines, creating prejudice and bigotry in weaker minds and souls, as in Hitler's Germany.
Instead of the "melting pot" image of how all should melt into typically a white-male European bent and language, I think the more exquisite analogy of the United States is the Salad Bowl image of many cultures, maintaining their distinct heritages, customs, dialect, ideas, strengths, etc, and creating a huge conglomerate (salad), better than its individual parts separate. Beautiful in the eyes of the maker of us all, who created all in His own image and likeness, yet distinctly unique from each other, and all of whom are sacred, no matter who nor from what country.

It's a good thing that compassionate Catholics - nuns (sisters), priests, laypeople - took some of those that were the young "hooligans" under their wings to help shape them into who they became, with great care and compassion. Most immigrants though have been responsible, reliable, hard-working, law-abiding citizens building our nation stronger and more just with each generation. May we ask our immigrant ancestors from the past to please pray for us, pray for our nation, and especially, pray for our immigrant, refugee, and other "stranger" populations who always held a special place within the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Below is the Ohio Bishops' Statement on Immigration, April 4th, 2017, at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Conference of Ohio. It was sent to President Trump and to Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown, and to all Ohio members of the U.S. House. This is taken from the Catholic Conference of Ohio website.
Bravo to our Catholic paper here and its editors of The Catholic Times, for printing itprominently in the beginning of the paper!
Come to Carey, Ohio on the VIGIL (Aug. 14th) of the feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother to spiritually support the Chaldean Catholics living in great fear. Twenty-five to thirty buslines, multiple campers, etc, etc take over the entire city of Carey! So beautiful!! You will never have heard such singing and such gusto in the songs in love of Mary as you will when the Chaldean Catholics are there. It may not be for long though, if our lawmakers have their way.

Call for comprehensive
reform, support for children and intact families, enforcement efforts
that focus on threats to public safety, and maintaining programs for
refugees

CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OF OHIOLetter Encouraging Legislative Support for Immigrants and Refugees
Catholic Bishops of Ohio
April 2017
Welcoming refugees and immigrants is a significant aspect of our
American heritage and a fundamental character of Ohio faith communities,
including the Catholic Church. Ohio is blessed to have many refugees
and immigrants in our parishes, schools and ministries. The Catholic
Church in our state operates numerous programs that directly sponsor and
support these newcomers.
As we listen to our pastors, principals, program directors, and more
importantly, to the refugees and immigrants served by our Church’s
ministries, we know of many good people who are deeply concerned for
their personal safety and fearful about separation from their families.
These are ongoing concerns, but recent changes in federal policy have
heightened such fears.
At both the state and national levels, our Church has long spoken out
in favor of policies that ensure safety and compassionate treatment for
immigrant and refugee persons and families in need. We continue to call
upon Congress to address our broken immigration system through a
comprehensive reform that improves security and creates more legal and
transparent paths to immigration. As for enforcement, we do not
advocate for the breaking of laws. Yet, we do urge for a more humane
enforcement of these laws in a way that distinguishes between actual
criminals and otherwise law-abiding, undocumented immigrant family
members. We believe immigration officials should prioritize removal to
those who are real threats to public safety. Likewise, most local law
enforcement agencies we encounter are highly concerned about increasing
trust between police and immigrant communities. Their work for public
safety relies on trust between immigrants and local police and sheriff
departments. We oppose efforts to pressure our state and local law
enforcement to proactively enforce immigration regulations, unless
public safety is truly at risk.
Ohio does not benefit from separating good families and traumatizing
children in our schools who each day live in fear of finding that their
mothers or fathers are no longer at home to greet them. In these
instances, justice should be sought, but the punishment should be
commensurate with serving the good of the family unit, which is the
fundamental cell of all society. In January 2017, the chairman of our
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration,
Bishop Joe S. Vasquez, echoed our concerns over policy shifts created by
recent presidential executive orders that increase the detention and
family separation of many immigrants. He wrote:

"The announced increase in immigrant
detention space and immigration enforcement activities is alarming. It
will tear families apart and spark fear and panic in communities. While
we respect the right of our federal government to control our borders
and ensure security for all Americans, we do not believe that a
large-scale escalation of immigrant detention and intensive increased
use of enforcement in immigrant communities is the way to achieve those
goals. Instead, we remain firm in our commitment to comprehensive,
compassionate, and common-sense reform."

In Ohio, our Church’s refugee resettlement network includes diocesan
offices in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Dayton. In 2016, we resettled over
1000 refugees. Catholic parishes and diocesan offices also work in
collaboration with other refugee resettlement programs in Ohio. These
programs have safely and compassionately resettled refugees from all
over the world, including a small number from Syria. Measuring by the
immense outpouring of support from parishioners and others in our
communities towards these refugees, we believe most Ohioans who know
migrants and refugees welcome newcomers with open arms and wish to see
Americans offer acts of mercy. The refugee program is one of the most
vetted processes for entry into the United States. We do not oppose
efforts to improve on the system, should there be a need. However, the
temporary shutdown of all refugee admissions, and the more than 60
percent reduction in the number of refugees who can be resettled, create
a chilling effect on our ability to maintain programs and ongoing
assistance. Refugees who have languished in camps for years will
continue to find no relief, and a sudden temporary halt for our own
agencies will likely result in significant downsizing of resources and
staff.
We encourage your support for the following:
1. A comprehensive reform of our immigration laws, not just
enforcement-only measures, but a reform that provides more paths for
legal entry and a rational and clear cut separation of duties among
federal and local law enforcement officials which does not compromise
the community character of local law enforcement;
2. The BRIDGE Act: S.128/H.R. 496. (This Act will protect the
dignity of DACA-eligible youth by ensuring that these individuals, who
were brought to the United States as children and are contributing so
much to our nation, can continue to live their lives free of the anxiety
that they could be deported at any time.);
3. Efforts to persuade the administration to reestablish enforcement
priorities, so that they focus more on true criminals and threats to
public safety;
4. Maintaining the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program with adequate funding while further improving the vetting process.
As Pope Francis said, "To migrate is the expression of that inherent
desire for the happiness proper to every human being, a happiness that
is to be sought and pursued. For us Christians, all human life is an
itinerant journey towards our heavenly homeland" (February 2017 Address to Participants in the International Forum on Migration and Peace).
Thank you for this consideration.The Catholic Bishops of Ohio
Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Chairman, Board of Directors, Catholic Conference of Ohio
Most Rev. Joseph R. Binzer
Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati

Most Rev. Frederick F. Campbell
Bishop of Columbus

Most Rev. William Skurla
Apostolic Administrator of Byzantine Eparchy of Parma

The Lamb

Catholic Worker Pledge and Prayer

O God, help me to valiantly live out the teachings of your Son, Jesus Christ, and of those He has passed down through His Bride, the Roman Catholic Church, so deeply revered by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin. Through the intercessory prayers of Your dear mother, Mary, and of her beloved spouse, St. Joseph the Worker, patron saint of the Catholic Worker, I pledge to make the work of my hands this day, no matter how small, a life prayer of loving sacrifice to You. Fill me with Your inner peace toward all I meet today. Amen.

(note: Dorothy Day emphasized: "If you are not going to be obedient to the Catholic Church, then take 'Catholic' off of your banner.")

Patron Saint of the Catholic Worker

Daily Prayer to St. Joseph for Purity and Daily Pledge

One of the prayers a priest uses to bless the St. Joseph Purity cords:"God, the lover and restorer of innocence, we pray that Thy faithful who are to wear this cincture [cord] may, by the prayers of Saint Joseph, spouse of Thy Holy Mother, have their loins girded and hold burning lamps in their hands, and thus be likened to men and women who wait for their Lord when He shall return for a wedding, that when He comes and knocks the may open to Him, and be found worthy of being taken into everlasting joys; through Thee who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen."

PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR PURITYGuardian of virgins, and holy father Joseph, to whose faithful custody Christ Jesus, Innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were committed; I pray and beseech thee, by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, that, being preserved from all uncleanness, I may with spotless mind, pure heart, and chaste body, ever serve Jesus and and honor Mary most chastely all the days of my life. Amen.

DAILY ADDITIONAL PLEDGE OF PURITY for those living in The Lamb Catholic CommunityFor single people of all ages and walks of life (including religious):Let this holy cord be a constant reminder of this daily pledge to be celibate in mind, heart, and body all the time without exception; and to remind me to pray for others. May our purity be upheld by and for the glory of God.For married people:Let this holy cord be a constant reminder of this daily pledge, as a spouse, to be chaste in mind, heart, and body all the time without exception; and to remind me to pray for others. May our purity be upheld by and for the glory of God.

When you belong to a confranternity, you have entered into a circle of people who are praying for you in your moment of weakness or temptation as you are for all who wear the St. Joseph Purity Cord. You have your back covered!

Luke 12:34-35 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girt and lamps burning in your hands." Pray for the 17,000+ viewers interested in these prayers (as of Dec. 27, 2013).

How to Pray the Rosary Daily as Mother Mary Asked at Fatima (for world peace)

One way to pray the Rosary is to focus on the WORDS of the rosary (much slower pace, typically), which is self-explanatory.
Another is to meditate on the MYSTERIES of the Rosary, typically done at a medium, rhythmic, natural pace. Here you are focusing on the words of the few prayers at the beginning, end, and between the actual mysteries: the Creed, Our Father, initial Hail Mary, Glory Be, Hail Holy Queen, Memorare,The Rosary Prayer, etc. Within the rosary though, after announcing each of the 5 individual mysteries of a set (which is always done), you deeply meditate upon that mystery of the rosary itself, or scene from the life of Christ and of Mary by putting yourself in them while rythmically saying the 10 Hail Marys and fingering the beads. Doing something simple and rhythmic frees up your spirit and "monkey mind" as St. Therese de Lisieux called it - our minds that jump all over the place when trying hard to concentrate on one thing. By keeping it's more "automatic" side busy (that, say, drives a car without thinking while carrying on a conversation in the car) in a simple way, this frees it to focus clearly with newer heights of meditation and prayer. Thomas Merton especially emphasized this level of meditation (of repetitious prayers, prayer beads, and extremely deep meditation), which is in many major religions and religious people. Even though major mystics typically employed less words to enter into deep meditation, it has this effect time and time again. Not all can meditate upon the MYSTERIES of the Rosary - doing two things at once - which is fine.
Mother Mary asked at Fatima if we would pray the rosary daily for world peace. There's always new insights if you open your heart and soul, especially when asking the Holy Spirit to come and pray with you! Please see the new column in the bottom right margin called, "Being There: Putting Yourself in the Rosary Scenes." As you have newer insights (you will!) you may send them to us to share at: thelambcatholicworker@gmail.comTHE ROSARY PRAYER
In addition to the "Hail Holy Queen," at the end of the Rosary, as seen on most Rosary pamphlets and the "Memorare" ("Remember O most gracious virgin Mary, that never was it known, ..."), another wonderful end-of-Rosary prayer, is "The Rosary Prayer," an older powerful one - especially if you are the type to meditate on the actual mysteries during the Rosary:
THE ROSARY PRAYER
O God, whose only begotten Son,
by His life, death, and resurrection
has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life;
grant, we beseech Thee,
that while meditating upon the mysteries
of the most holy Rosary
of the blessed virgin Mary,
we may imitate what they contain
and obtain what they promise
through the same Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.
THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY ROSARY (prayed by Franciscans for centuries, and whose concepts are the flip side of the coin of other already existing mysteries - the Finding of Jesus in the Temple is the Loss of Jesus in the Temple, etc). These give a more full picture of the other mysteries, for deeper meditation. After each mystery, in block parenthesese, will be the corresponding mystery of the traditional Rosary.
1. The Prophecy of Simeon -Luke 2:25-35 [part of the Presentation]
2. The Flight into Egypt -Matt. 2:13-15 [Birth of Jesus]
3. Loss of Jesus for Three Days -Luke 2:41-50 [Finding Jesus..]
4. Mary Meets Jesus on His Way to Calvary -Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17 [Carrying the Cross]
5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus -John 19:25-30 [Crucifixion]
6. The Body of Jesus Being Taken From the Cross -Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37 [Crucifixion]
7. The Burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47) [Crucifixion]
As mentioned in the Links, "Our Lady of Kibeho" is an excellent resource to deeply meditate on these mysteries while praying this unique Rosary, or the traditional ones (with these ideas and imagery painting a more detailed picture of those).
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR WORLD PEACE!
WALKING (OR JOGGING) WITH THE ROSARY AND CHAPLET
If you still are not sold on these two most critical daily prayers, you already know you have to keep your energy level up by regular exercise. While it is preferable to sit or kneel in quiet to deeply meditate, many of us have great trouble finding the time in a hectic day. Many do take time to jog or walk for exercise and health though (which is critical too!). Don't waste that opportunity to still "get in" your daily Rosary and Chaplet! In fact, the rhythmic pace of walking or even better - lightly jogging - greatly contributes to the rhythmic meditatative aspects of the repetitive prayers of the Rosary and Chaplet. This can be the best of all worlds. it is critical for our world as well. Prayer is powerful, especially this one!
One trick I learned is that since I do not want a Rosary dangling while running, I use my right hand for the first five of a decade and the left for the other. I simply jog with fists and stick out number one, then two, etc. on the right hand first, then the left. This becomes automatic and you deeply meditate instead of wondering where you are. You don't even have to think when you go right hand first, then left. I find a long street with almost no traffic or pedestrians to distract the meditations. If the meditation was not focused enough, I simply do that mystery again - of getting lost, with Christ, in the scene on which you are meditating.
Hope this helps! If you are already in a jogging group, start a Rosary and Chaplet jogging group! It will open up a whole new world for you and possibly help to save the world (both souls and the world itself from full blown war).

Are You Being Called to Become a Catholic Worker?

Justiceand Peace Shall Kiss On a silent retreat in 2005, Monica believes that the Holy Spirit enkindled in her the strong desire to open a 3-house Catholic Worker community for battered women and children of foreign decent (targeting the expanding Hispanic and Somali populations here) - Casa Guadalupe, Casa Romero, and Bakhita House. In telling others over the years, and after repeatedly hearing of the grave need, she embarked on this path, gathering co-Catholic Workers along the way. The original mission has since been modified to simply have women and children of foreign descent in any kind of desperate situation, but our soft spot in our hearts is particularly for those battered and abused ones. Our illegal Hispanic sisters particularly take abuse to not draw attention to law enforcement agencies who may deport them. The idea of a fourth house for food collection, storage and preparation has been an added inspiration for a steady supply of food since children will be involved. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us! Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, pray for a miracle to obtain these houses in a timely manner and to renovate them!

Whoa, Jesus and Mary at Your Right and Left

When you pray the Rosary daily, you may not feel the presence of Jesus and Mary while praying it (many times you probably will though). Afterwards, you look to the right, startled, whoa, there's Jesus; and to the left, whoa, there's Mary. There is no doubt they are standing right beside you and stay with you a long time. When you pray the Rosary daily, asking the Holy Spirit to pray with you and fill you, afterwards it is as though the Holy Spirit is and continues pouring and lavishing you with grace and with His very self, urging you to attempt to do His work in the world, to be His presence in the world. You walk away feeling more one with God.

Did Jesus Have a Sense of Humor?

Why did He call James and John "Sons of Thunder?" He did because they wanted to call down thunder upon a city that would not accept Christ. You can just picture Him saying, "Okay everyone, Sons of Thunder too, it's time to go." Also, He was thrilled when they returned after being sent out to preach, and came back with great stories.

Many Faces of Jesus: Modeling of Submission in His Baptism by St. John in the Jordan River

Appreciation of Grace-Filled Sacraments

Altar and Adoration of the Perfect Lamb, Jesus

The Unblemished Lamb of God in Sacred Scriptures

The Living Out of The Lamb Catholic Community Mission

The Lamb Catholic Community is a multi-house Columbus, Ohio intentional community design in the spirit of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, where we would be living out the Beatitudes, as Peter Maurin used to say, in addition to the following:

"In the Catholic Worker we must try to have the voluntary poverty of St. Francis, the charity of St. Vincent de Paul, the intellectual approach of St. Dominic, the easy conversations about things that matter of St. Philip Neri, the manual labor of St. Benedict."

We would live extremely simply in our dress, food, housing, furnishings and entertainment. We would share all or nearly all things in common and contribute our part in cooking, chores, responsibilities, expectations, and commitment. The primary purpose of this community, besides living like the early Church, is to provide hospitality, in the spirit of Dorothy Day, Peter Maurin, and the early Church communities for Hispanic battered women and children in two of the houses - Casa Guadalupe and Casa Romero, and those of Muslim and/or African decent - Bakhita House in a third house.The guests will have a time limit (such as one year), and hopefully will form their own little sub-communities with similar women to themselves, in order to move out near them, to help and support each other as a new “family” (babysitting, transportation, emergencies, etc).A fourth house is mainly to store, process (to prepare, can or freeze), and distribute the food - Loaves and Fishes House. It is difficult to obtain food donations from larger organizations because a house would be overwhelmed by the quantity that they want to get rid of at one time. Many companies will do only this or will not help at all. This way, this fourth house would hopefully have a couple of walk-in refrigerators and a walk-in freezer besides others, and large amounts of storage space for dry goods. It would be a choice for those to work in who do not feel comfortable working directly with the poor, but who want to lend a helping hand. It could be the safe meeting house for guests of the families (most will be coming from dangerous situations and we would not want to expose other families to danger), for daily mass, for Eucharistic Adoration (at times), for possible prayer meetings, for tutoring, for large meetings and/or gatherings (“Clarification of Thought,” in Peter Maurin’s design). This Loaves and Fishes House would be our main gathering place, so to speak, for larger groups. A fifth house, Lamb Catholic Worker Volunteer Corps House (531 Brookside Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43209) is modeled after the Jesuit Volunteer Corps design where people do not actually have the poor living with them, but commit to volunteering work directly with the poor and/or for the poor for a large portion of their time outside of this house. Most of this work will be with the Lamb Catholic Worker – with its planning, fundraising, renovating, maintenance, and eventually (and most importantly) with its guests and possibly former guests who still need support. The fourth house, Loaves and Fishes, will also oversee several "farm" gardens, or large city gardens, on and around the property, also in Peter Maurin’s design. These produce items would be canned in this house.Criteria for Enteringinto a Live-In Situation at The Lamb Catholic Community (*note-volunteers can come from all walks of life): -- Catholic or in the process of becoming Catholic --Preferrably has some service experience such as parish or other ministry (NET, SPO). religious training, Peace Corps, Jesuit Volunteer corps, Appalachian Project, etc., but this is not required --Has gone through “Protecting All God’s Children,” and has an FBI background check--Will make a commitment of at least 2-3 months, making promises in regards to the Catholic Worker Rule (rules, expectations), spiritual and personal holiness expectations, and participation Basically this will be similar to a religious order level of prayer, committment, and personal holiness. As a prayer base, a committment to…A minimum of 1 Hour of Prayer Daily which would include:§ Daily Mass§ The four Mysteries of the Rosary per week (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous) – Can be done while doing other things such as dishes, driving, jogging, doing laundry, cleaning, etc.§ Catholic Worker Pledge and Prayer, Prayer to St. Joseph for Purity of body and mind, Catholic Worker Pledge of Purity said often§ Chaplet of Divine Mercy when possible (hopefully at least 3 times per week)§ Scripture meditation§ 1 Additional hour per week of Adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament (listening to our Lord). It is encouraged that this time not be on other prayers and reading, but in quiet listening to the still "quiet whisper" of the voice of the Lord, and conversation with our Lord, as He went off alone quite frequently to convene with the Father.§ Monthly - go to confession.Core members and volunteers would wear two outward signs of God and His grace: the St. Joseph cord for purity of mind, heart, and body (single: celibacy, married: chastity) and for a reminder to pray for the purity of others ; and of a Christian necklace of some kind (cross, crucifix, a fish (early church sign), a dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit, etc).Please put prayerful reflection into this! Do not feel obligated because there are many other avenues to serve the poor. It is "a harsh and dreadful love compared to that in dreams," as Dorothy Day often quoted Dostoesvsky concerning the life lived with the poor. Aside from the poverty, it will be a more dangerous Catholic Worker than usual considering the people from whom these battered women and children are fleeing. The mission, as was Harriet Tubman's, is to bring our "sisters" to freedom. All of this requires a grounded, consistent prayer life and continuous connection to God.

Monsignor Marv Mottet

Msgr. Mottet promotes Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI's "Culture of Life" and "Culture of Pentecost." He holds fast to the newly coined, "Consistent Life Ethic" - also, "Consistent Ethic of Human Life," upholding every human life the world over from natural conception to natural death - all uniquely and lovingly created in God's image with sacredness.

Being There :Putting Yourself in the Rosary Scenes

PLEASE SEE THE ROSARY RELATED POSTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEFT MARGIN AS WELL

Joyful Mysteries

ANNUNCIATION (the fruit of meditating on this mystery: Humility)

-Mary's expectant "yes" and God allowing questioning as to how this can be done

-Greeting of Gabriel to Mary is the basis of the prayer, "Hail Mary," if anyone doubts the scriptural basis of awe and reverence for Mary

-What was Jesus' chromosonal pattern or DNA like under a microscope as it formed into cells, or divided?

-How could the God who encompasses all things be encompassed in a uterus, or become human by starting with the most tiny cells?

-a famout saint once said that the most astounding feat was not that God suffered and died for us, nor that He rose from the dead and opened Heaven - no, it was that He became a human

VISITATION (fruit: Love of neighbor)

-The famous "Magnificat" - "My soul doth magnify the Lord.."

-Mary was the first to truly know Jesus' power - as she carried Jesus in her abdomen, she knew he was not conceived of man, hence the praise and worship of God in her Magnificat

-How tricky and overwhelming to be in labor at age 14; to worry of dying in the desert if she gives birth on the way; no room as the time gets closer

- No bed to give birth in, but must give birth on the floor of a dirty stable (things may be high stress like this in our lives, but we can get through them too!); and childbirth without her mother

- What joy after the birth! Hearing the multitude of angels, seeing the shepherds, kings, gifts, etc.

PRESENTATION (fruit: Obedience)

-How Anna and Simeon's words must have stung (Luke 2:25-38) "He will be a sign of contradiction, a sword will pierce your [Mary's] heart, ...

THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

-This is poignant for anyone who has lost a child in public, particularly when you cannot find them or get to them for a period of time. You are frantic. Think of our fallen away Catholic relatives who have "lost" Jesus. Parents are panic-stricken, like St. Monica, who prayed untiringly for Augustine. Lord, help them find their way back to you

-No one can come to Jesus, "unless the Father draw him. What a priceless gift we have been given - that of our faith in God

-The thrill Jesus must have had to be "cut loose," so to speak, and impart wisdom and explanation to the holy men of the day at the Temple for three whole days!

SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN (fruit: Sorrow for Sin)

-Picture His anguish over the torture that is about to happen. Have you ever had something coming the next day that you dreaded or agonized over? He fully understands human panic and anguish. "Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you." "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and those who are crushed in spirit, He saves."

-"Father take this cup away,..but not my will Yours be done"

THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR (fruit: Purity)

- What would it be like to be whipped with just two lashes over the same spot, once in your life - to know the level of torture that rips open sensitive skin, tearing it? Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ," passed out in pain on the set making the movie when the whip had gone around his apparatus and actually got him once

-"By His stripes, we are healed ..." Heal me, Lord, of all bad things I may think or do. Humble me, Lord

THE CROWNING OF THORNS (fruit: Courage)

-With stinging back laid open wide in searing pain, they put on blindfolds and struck him hard on the thorned head, 1 inch thorns digging into his skull; all while they mocked him and spit on him. It makes any humiliation you suffer for His name and for His teachings and Way, seem easy

-We take on blows to crowned thorn head when people - especially family and friends - say critical words of Christ's way that we try to live, especially in the Catholic Worker

CARRYING OF THE CROSS (fruit: Patience)

-He accepted the cross being handed to Him - Father help me accept my crosses you have for me

-How heavy - like dragging large logs uphill through a forest, inch by inch; and with such stinging wounds on His back, shoulders, arms, neck and head; legs quivering under such massive weight until giving out and everything painfully crashing down on Him

-How did He ever get back up for more of the same when He knew He couldn't carry it's massive weight? Leg first, then arms to carry, and more weight on the bloody skinless shoulders

-What did Jesus' face really look like? The Shroud of Turin, believed to be His facial outline, is a great place to start. "This is the people who long to see your face"

CRUCIFIXION (fruit: Perseverance)

-Excruciating - No split-second of relief- He couldn't pull up on His hands to relieve His feet nor rest on His feet to relieve His hands - everything stinging, throbbing, begging for a split second of relief. If you have ever had to dig a deep splinter out of your hand or a finger (or foot) and needed a minute to rest from the pain and soreness of digging it out, this excruciating pain had no rest; indeed, those most excruciating points of pain held up his entire body weight - constant irritation and rubbing of the open wounds! May we unite what little suffering we have to Christ on the cross

-How very, very hard the crucifier must have had to pound the heavy hammer onto the crude spike/nail again and again to get through the solide flesh of Jesus' doubled feet

-We cannot imagine the excruciating suffering - writhing in pain but not able to move without much more pain; irritation at the open wounds for hours, tugging from the full body weight

-Mary witnessing all of this! She stood at the foot of the Cross staring up at her Son, her once little boy, who was suffering in agony. She is at the foot of our crosses. She brings us to the Cross, to our source of life and freedom, her Son, Jesus

-One account has Jesus on the cross for SIX hours (Mark 16: 1-39). "It was 9:00 in the morning when they crucified Him," with the next verse being the inscription put above His head

-Two times the word "loudly or loud" were used to show His outcries of overwhelming anguish and despair (same Gospel), and over the physical torture (if you are a who has passed a full-sized kidney stone or given birth without pain killers, you come a hint nearer to this level of nerves being shot and crying out)

- How God the Father must have suffered too! How difficult to watch and experience!

-Seven last words, or sentences (I thirst, it is finished, etc)

-What did/does Jesus really look like? The Shroud of Turin is believed to be His actual facial features. "This is a people that long to see your face!"

GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

RESURRECTION (fruit: Faith)

-What state was His body in for the three days? God cannot fully die; did He descend to hell, as in one creed? What happened there?

-Was His body in a state of incorruption totally (like St. Margaret Josephine Bakhita) or in the process of corrupting, then fully restored?

-What was His first thought on coming back to life? What did it feel like? Or was He alive always, outside His body, then flew back in, so to speak?

-Did He dance around, or simply stand in awe?

-On the beach making a fire and laughing to Himself as He asks them to throw the net again; cooking the breakfast fish for them

- The road to Emmaus walk and breaking of bread

- Suddenly appearing, "Peace be with you," they being startled, and He eating a piece of fish to prove it was Him and not a ghost

-Putting my own hands into His hand wounds, touching them like Thomas

-"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you, ..." (Jn. 14:27) Do we receive and solely be this peace to the world, His peace? Or are we channels of the opposite?

-Jesus telling them"But when he comes, the spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth." (Jn. 16:12)

-Picture gazing into His resurrected face, His eyes, ... one look would flood you with excitement and perspective of this fleeting life and the power of God if we follow Him and His ways alone, whatever He should want. Who else has power over life and death? In the end, after it all, the Lamb love triumphs.

ASCENSION (fruit: Hope)

-Jesus telling them that the Holy Spirit will come to them and stay until the end of time, guiding, directing, giving them power

-He floated up, then did He pick up speed, going past this and that like a rocket?

- What did the first split second of heaven feel like to Him?

- What was the clamor like in heaven receiving Him, especially knowing how the angels celebrated at His birth! And this after suffering in such loneliness, pain, and despair; what a celebration!

-Picture what Jesus looks like now, radiating in power and light (brighter than the Transfiguration): one look at Him having risen would clear away any doubt, pain, worry

-What did the Apostles think as they are watching Him float up into the sky, still looking when the angel came to speak? Can you imagine that sight! Nothing could contain you

THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (fruit: Love of God) -Upper room, scared and wondering if they are next - Jesus coming through the wall; "Peace be with you," and breathing on them

-The apostles' praise and openness to the Spirit, then the whole vast assembly filled with the Spirit, caught up in praising and worshipping God, speaking in tongues; filled with His loving spirit toward all of many tongues; getting a taste of heaven

THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER TO HEAVEN (fruit: Grace of a Good Death)

-How tenderly God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit took their precious Mary by the hand, after all that she had been through, and brought her to heaven

-What a clamor when Mary set one foot in Heaven!

-Mary was so special that she was a pre-conceived design, with God planning for her creation before she even was conceived, and espoused her like no other human being

THE CORONATION OF MARY (fruit: Trust in Mary's Intercession)

-What is going on with Mary now in heaven? What is she doing?

LUMINOUS MYSTERIES

BAPTISM OF OUR LORD (fruit: Openness to the Holy Spirit)

-How humble of our God to go through religious ritual, bowing His head down to be baptized by a man - what a great role model of humility in this modern, proud, and independent age!

-Put yourself in St. John the Baptist's position of pouring water over Jesus' humbled, bowed down hair on His head

-"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased," - don't we want to also be that beloved child, making Him proud and well-pleased with us too?

Wedding Feast at Cana (fruit: to Jesus Through Mary)

-Mary, the great elbow nudger! "They need more wine;" "Women, what concern is that of mine, my hour has not yet come;" "Do whatever He tells you;" "Fill these jars, ..."

PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM (fruit: Conversion and Trust in God)

-How did these apostles walk away from their lives - from everything and everyone familiar! Dropping their nets, leaving their tax post, or warm homes - and just follow Jesus?

-What about the rich young man starved to do more, but when asked to sell and and come follow Jesus, he left. What adventure he missed! And for his comfortable former way!

-Look how OLD Jesus was when He started all this! Thirty years old when life expectancy was probably 45! It's never too late

-He stayed up all night on the mountain in prayer before setting off to call the specific apostles for His work; so rooted in prayer always first; what a great role model! Jesus, help us to pray before everything major and even minor in our lives. Gather those who you call to The Lamb Catholic Community, Lord, as well as to all your other works of all kinds throughout the world!

TRANSFIGURATION (fruit: Desire for Holiness)

- One look at Him would have told them He is God; if He was that radiant then, how must He be in heaven?

-"This is my beloved Son, listen to Him."

INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST (fruit: Adoration)

-"Unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink of His blood, you shall not have life within you. For My flesh is real food and My blood real drink." Many left Him over this, and He turneds to the apostles and said: "Will you leave Me too?" And Peter answered, "Master, where will we go? You have the words of everlasting life" -The tenderness of Jesus bent down washing your feet at the last supper, the top of His hair, His hands turning your feet this way then that, ... "Whoever wishes to be first must be servant to all"

-With what heavy, heavy arms He held out the bread, making it into His body - the agony in the garden minutes away. How did He lovingly think of them and future generations when His life was at such risk that very night?

-What humility of God to have become and continue to become a simple substance like bread then and through all times, over and over and over again

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Monsignor Marv Mottet

Monsignor Marv Mottet, a retired diocesan priest from Davenport, Iowa, is cofounder, along with Rev. Richard McSorley, S.J., of the St. Francis Catholic Worker Community in Washington, D.C. One house, under a new name, celebrated its 30th anniversary Dec. 16, 2011 and the other was sold to buy a farm and has continued giving retreats for the homeless with the original Catholic Worker people. He has been visited by Blessed Mother Teresa and has cofounded many organizations serving the poorest in our country. At the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 1978-1985, he headed the Campaign for Human Development. He has spent nearly his entire priesthood "trying to marry the charismatic movement and peace and social justice issues (including pro-life, anti-abortion)," more recently emphasizing Blessed John Paul II's promotion of a "Culture of Life" and a "Culture of Pentecost."